Synthesis and Characterization of Poly(vinyl alcohol)/ Sago Starch Blend Films with Plasticizers.

Wong, Pei Yi (2017) Synthesis and Characterization of Poly(vinyl alcohol)/ Sago Starch Blend Films with Plasticizers. Final Year Project (Bachelor), Tunku Abdul Rahman University College.

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Abstract

Solution casting method was used to prepare the polymer blend films with different formulations. The thermal properties and mechanical properties of the polymer blend films were investigated and analyzed using different instrument. The polymer blend films were characterized by using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), Thermogravimetric analyzer (TGA) and Fourier Transform Infrared Specroscopy (FTIR). FTIR spectroscopy was used to study the functional group presence in the polymer blend films. DSC instrument was used to determine the melting point (Tm) and glass transition temperature (Tg) of the polymer blend. The physical and chemical properties of the PVASS blend films with and without the addition of plasticizers were studied. The single peak observed in the DSC thermogram implied the better compatibility for PVASS blend. PVASS blend films with the addition of plasticizers would enhance the flexibility of the blend films as increased the percentage of elongation at break. PVASS blend films plasticized with sorbitol showed better mechanical properties as compared to the blend plasticized with urea and sorbitol. The tensile strength (TS), elongation at break (%) and Young’s modulus of the PVASS blend plasticized with sorbitol was 8.27 MPa, 275.99 % and 29.52 MPa respectively at the blend ratio of 70:30. The high melting point of the PVASS blend films plasticized with sorbitol was 185.66 which indicate the high crystallinity of the blend films and better interaction between PVA and Starch. The higher intensity of the O-H stretching shown in FT-IR implied that the strong 2 chemical bonding of the blend films. Result also showed that the PVASS blend films with one type of plasticizer exhibited better properties compared to PVASS blend films with the combination of two types of plasticizers due to the anti-plasticization effect.